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Month: May 2017

Described by The Sunday Times on its cover as ‘The greatest novel you’ve never read,’ Stoner by John Williams is a superb piece of prose fiction.

First published to little acclaim in 1973, thanks to John McGahern for one, it enjoyed a successful renaissance in 2003. I first read it a few ago at a book club, and enjoyed it so much, I decided to read it again and review it here.

An only child, brought up on his parents’ farm in Missouri, William Stoner led a small sheltered existence. In 1910, he goes to the University of Columbia, Missouri, to study agriculture, so that he can help his father out more on the farm. However, during one semester when he has to take an extra subject, he takes a course in English Literature and falls in love with language and literature. His life is changed by his professor Archer Sloane who recognizes a fellow traveller and encourages his passion.

Much to his parents’ dismay, he abandons his studies in agriculture and instead pursues a degree in English literature, followed by further academic studies, in order to become a professor of English literature himself.

This is a simple story of one man’s life and the struggles he faces. Written in the third person, the narrative style is factual and understated, but with such an elegant beauty that it rendered me tearful on several occasions throughout the novel.

William Stoner is a quiet man, full of integrity, who builds his life on solid principles and values. Sadly, there are always those who would seek to take advantage of such goodness. Stoner’s wife Edith is one such character. She is so manipulative and evil towards her husband that you are desperately hoping he gives her a good clout. He is too good a man for that. He faces everything she throws at him with equanimity and good humour, and this is frustrating at times, if not admirable.

When Edith seeks to separate his daughter from him, I was disappointed in him for the only time throughout the book, for not standing up to her.

Stoner faces challenges from both students and professors at the university. He remains true to his principals at all times when refusing to pass a student – Charles Walker, for work that does not deserve to pass. In doing so, he incurs the ongoing hatred of a fellow professor called Lomax, who tries to ruin Stoner. Stoner quietly continues to stand by his values, do what is asked of him (even when it is horribly unfair) and heroically does so without complaint.

There are times during the novel when you wonder how much more the poor man can take. He does at times question this himself:

“He had come to that moment in his age when there occurred to him, with increasing intensity, a question of such overwhelming simplicity that he had no means to face it. He found himself wondering if his life were worth the living; if it had ever been.”

He finds happiness later in life with Katherine Driscoll, a student, and as we cheer him on, we know that yet again he is fated to lose the one true love of his life.

Whether you feel Stoner is a weak man or a hero, you cannot doubt his integrity, goodness and calm perseverance through the unfair blows of fate he is dealt. He is not without passion and has given love as well as receiving it. He reflects on the love he has given:

“But he was not beyond it, he knew and would never be. Beneath the numbness, the indifference, the removal, it was there, intense and steady; it had always been there. In his youth he had given it freely, without thought; he had given it to the knowledge that had been revealed to him-how many years ago?-by Archer Sloane; he had given it to Edith, in those first blind foolish days of his courtship and marriage; and he had given it to Katherine, as if it had never been given before. He had, in odd ways, given it to every moment of his life.”

I loved this book as much, if not more, on a second reading. The narrative pace is as perfect as I have ever read in any novel. It is the understated elegance of the prose and the sadness of one man’s heroic struggle against those of ‘meaner natures and lesser minds.’ I cannot recommend it highly enough. It deserves the status of a classic.

As ever, feel free to share your views on the novel. I would love to hear them!

I am having a little break from my list of betterment, but in July will return with the next book on my list, which is ‘The Razor’s Edge’ by Somerset Maugham. It was supposed to be ‘Of Human Bondage’ by Maugham, but I have read that and couldn’t put myself through it again! I read ‘The Razor’s Edge’ over 20 years ago, so can’t remember a thing about it. Let’s see how I get on this time!

Feel free to read along or share your current reads. Any books that have changed your life lately? Don’t keep it to yourself – be kind and share!

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I have noticed recently that my to be read pile is growing at an alarming rate and my book addiction is getting worse. I find it hard to pass a book shop without going in…’just for a look,’ which inevitably turns into the purchase of at least one book and usually several. If there’s a two for the price of one offer on I’m sunk. As for second hand and charity bookshops, it is not unheard of for me to come out with between eight to ten books.

I was berating myself for this the other day, as I tried to cram yet more books onto a shelf which is already overflowing. The conversation went something like this:

Me: This is ridiculous, this book buying has really got to stop. Look at all these books….grrrrr.

Me in reply: Oh but look at them, aren’t they fabulous? I can’t wait to read them.

Me: Read them? Half of those books have been sitting on that shelf for nearly two years without being read, because you keep buying more.

Me in reply: I know, but I will read them one day.

Me: One day, one day. Just STOP buying books. You are a total nightmare. You keep buying new books before you have even read the ones you have.

Me in reply: OK, I know that is a bit of a problem and I am going to try and stop doing that. But I still think there are much worse addictions that a book addiction, and in fact some would say it’s a good way to spend your money. I am going to think of all the reasons to justify my book addiction, and guess what I might even write a blog post about it.

Me: You do that. (Carries on day in a huff with self.)

So, here I am ready to tell you all the reasons why it is good to buy books

By the time I am an old lady (if God willing I live into old age) I will have the most fantastic book collection which I may be able to leave to a library or perhaps a group of schools, thus imparting wisdom and learning.

Reading is a fantastic way to learn about life, about people, and about how to make sense of the world. Novels, short stories, poetry and non-fiction all help us in this way. Thus, books are an essential tool in our lives.

Reading a physical book means you are not looking at a screen which we all now know has to be a good thing. We are spending far too much time looking at screens to the detriment of our long-term health and wellbeing.

Reading stimulates the mind. It has been shown that stimulating the mind slows down the deterioration of the mind and keeps us mentally agile.

Reading helps us become more empathetic as we begin to understand how other people view the world.

Reading helps us feel connected, when we see that other human beings share the same emotions and thoughts as we do.

Reading makes you more intelligent.

Reading helps you unwind before sleep (as long as it is not a page turner in which case, good luck!)

Reading helps you escape your daily grind by taking you to exotic and exciting places.

According to researchers at theUniversity of Sussex, reading for just six minutes can help reduce stress levels by up to 68 percent.

I rest my case. Now if someone could just help me figure out how to stop buying books until I have read the ones I already have, that would be great.